Para Archery
The competition format for the Paralympic Games is identical to that of the Olympic Games for the sport of archery. Paralympic Archery includes both wheelchair and ambulatory classes, as well as compound and recurve divisions.
Coordination Impairments
Athletes with a Coordination Impairment have one or more of the following three movement disorders that adversely affects the ability to voluntarily produce a full range of skilled movement fluidly, rapidly, and accurately:
- Hypertonia/Spasticity: an increase in muscle tension that may be velocity-dependent and/or a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch.
- Motor Ataxia: limited precision in direction and velocity of voluntary movement.
- Dyskinesia (Athetosis, Dystonia, Chorea): involuntary movements that interfere with voluntary movements.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions that can lead to coordination impairments include Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Impaired Muscle Power
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a reduced (or no) ability to contract their muscles to generate force that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system or the muscles.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired muscle power include: spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, and spina bifida.
Impaired Passive Range of Motion
Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a reduced ability for a joint to be passively moved that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting a structure of bones, joints, connective tissue, or soft tissues.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired passive range of motion include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
Limb Deficiency and/or Limb Length Difference
Athletes with Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference have a total or partial absence of a limb or anatomically irregular limb dimensions that are consistent with an Underlying Health Condition resulting from trauma (traumatic amputation), illness (example: amputation due to bone cancer), or congenital causes affecting the bones and/or joints (example: dysmelia).
This impairment group can be further divided into the following sub-categories:
- Limb deficiency
- Leg length difference and/or
- Arm length difference
Entering The Pathway
Adaptive Archery Resources, opens in a new tabThe easiest way to get started in Para Archery is join a USA Archery club near you. Because acquiring high quality bows and arrows can be a barrier to the sport's entry, many USA Archery clubs will offer rental gear.
Click the link below for a variety of resources about getting started in Para Archery including Adaptive Archery's starter manual, video series, and more.
Equipment
At minimum, athletes will need the following equipment to compete in para archery:
- Bow and arrows
- Wheelchair (as applicable)
Additional equipment for training, accuracy, and comfort can include:
- Sights and stabilizers
Para Archery offers national classification at various events throughout the year. See below for how to get classified in Para Archery as well as the different classification groups.
Physical Impairments
Para Archery Classification Request and Medical Intake Form, opens in a new tabTo secure a national physical impairment classification appointment an athlete needs to register for a U.S. Para Archery event offering a classification panel. The full list can be found here.
- Athletes will need to fill out a Para Archery National Classification Medical Intake Form and submit it to para@usarchery.org at least 30 days prior to the event start date.
- Once the forms are submitted, they will be sent to the event's classifiers to confirm the athlete's eligibility.
- Once eligibility is confirmed, athletes will be given a classification appointment.
- During the classification appointment, the athlete will be tested on range of movement, strength, flexibility, and balance. They will be assigned a classification after tests are completed.
Standing Class
ST: Athletes in the Standing class have an impairment that can affect either the upper body or lower body. They can shoot standing or sit on a stool or chair to shoot (feet are on the ground).
Wheelchair Classes
Wheelchair class athletes shoot from a wheelchair.
- WC2 - Athletes in this class shoot from a wheelchair with their feet on the foot rests (which cannot touch the ground). Athletes will display little to no limitations in upper body strength, coordination, or range of motion.
- WC1 - Athletes in this class shoot from a wheelchair but have more severe impairments than W2. Athletes must have an impairment in at least three limbs and the core.
Paralympic Archery Competitions are broken down into the following 2 divisions, each with unique scoring.
Recurve Division
- Recurve archers are scored on a set system in match play.
- Archers will shoot 3 arrows at a time.
- Sets are scored 2 points for a win, 1 for a tie, and 0 for a loss.
- In individual competitions, the first to 6 set points wins the match. In team competitions, the first team to 5 set points win the match.
Compound Division and W1 Archers
- Compound and W1 Archers use cumulative scoring.
- Archers will shoot 5 rounds of 3 arrows, for 15 total.
- The highest cumulative score wins.
- A tie after 15 arrows results in a single arrow shoot off.
USA Archery Club Locator
USA Track & Field Club Locator, opens in a new tabFind a USA Archery club near you to begin your journey!
Find an Event
Find an Event, opens in a new tabClick the link below to view USA Archery event near you at the local, state, and national level.